Difference between revisions of "Nation/The Oan Isles"

Revision as of 23:05, 18 May 2017

The Realm of The Oan Isles
Motto: "Kia hoa a ro komotua" ("Continue, Regardless")
Anthem: "u Loanu e taka" ("The Boy and the Sea")
Regional Map
Capital		La Rochelle
Official languages		Oan
Ethnic groups		Human
Demonym		Oan
Government		Constitutional monarchy and direct democracy
-	Defender	Ese Ulua
-	Head of government	National Council
Legislature		National Assembly
Area
-	Total	500,000 km2 312,500 sq mi
Population
-	estimate	90 million
GDP (nominal)		estimate
-	Total	3 trillion SHD
-	Per capita	33,333 SHD
Gini		10.5 low
HDI		.948 very high
Currency		Oan Dollar (OAD)
Date format		MM-DD-YYYY
Drives on the		left
Calling code		+1275
Internet TLD		.oa

The Realm of the Oan Isles is a nation in the East Pacific. The Home Islands, refer to the map, lie between Xiopothos, the Asian Pacific Islands and Lazlowia, while sharing a land border with Staynish Pacific Territory. The nation also has colonies in the Pacific Ocean and on Gondwana.

The Oan Isles is a constitutional monarchy and direct democracy. The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the Defender, Ese Ulua, while the executive branch consists of the collective head of government, known as the National Council. The legislature contains all adult citizens who vote on, debate, and propose bills through an online app. The government has three layers: national, provincial, and local. These three branches have checks and balances between them: legislative, executive and judiciary. The rule of law and rights of the people are respected in practice and enumerated in the Third Constitution of the Oan Isles.

The Oan Isles is spread across multiple timezones, in fact the international dateline divides the Home Islands from the Oan Pacific and Gondwana territories, and has one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones on Urth and a medium land surface area. The Oan Isles experiences earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. It is often hot and humid. The Oan Isles is mostly mountainous and covered in tropical rainforests. The majority of people live in cities, the largest of which are the Port of the Rock and the capital city, La Rochelle. The Oan Isles has an excellent trackrecord in environmental protection and is a mega diverse nation. The national animal is the Spix's Macaw.

The Oan Isles has a diverse population. The 99.9% of the approximately 120 million strong population is human. The largest cultural group is the polynesian Oan ethnic group followed by smaller groups, who are often descendants of immigrants from elsewhere. The Oan Isles has many religions. Christianity is by far the largest. Many people practice syncretism with the second largest religion, Oan traditional religion, and smaller minority religions. Minority and women's rights are respected in practice.

The Oan Isles has a strong economy of approximately 3 trillion dollars and a per capita GDP of 33,333 dollars. It uses the Oan dollar (managed and issued by the Bank of The Oan Isles) and the Kirib as legal tender. The state (and state owned enterprise) make up three quarters of the economy. The services sector makes up half, the secondary sector makes up two fifths and the primary sector makes up a tenth of the economy. The Oan Isles's major trade partners are Staynes, Caltharus, Dragonia and Tuvaltastan with large exports of manufactured goods and imports of raw materials. The Oan Isles benefits from its strategic location, but is marred by its high debt.

History

Main Article: History of The Oan Isles.

Geography

The Oan Isles is made up, mostly, of islands. The only continous land area is on the colony of Oan Gondwana. The Oan Isles lies from 0° latitude to 27°S latitude and from 140°E longitude and 133°W longitude. It has an area of 500,000km² or 312,500miles². It has ??? islands, atolls and islets. It has a length of ???km or ???miles and a breadth of ???km or ???miles. The Oan Isles is generally mountainous. The It has an average elevation of 1,200m. Its highest point is Heavenly Mountain, which has a height of 4,000 metres above sea level. Its lowest point is sea level. Its longest river is the Huana River (or the River of Light) which has a length of approximately 780km and has its source in the Truimphant Mountains that form part of the border with Rijelv.

Most of the islands on the west were formed from volcanic activity when the tectonic plates of the Pacific and Auroran Shelves experienced a great degree of movement ??? years ago. The islands from the centre to the east are residues of continental drift. This is explained by immense differences in their mineral compositions. Large reserves of igneous rock such as marble and granite can be found, along with the presence of many extinct or dormant volcanoes. Those to the east are characterised by metamorphic and sedimentary rock such as dolomite. The Oan Isles has abundant mineral resources. It has ??? kilolitres of untapped natural gas reserves and ??? kilolitres of petroleum reserves. It has a large amount of sea salt measuring some ??? kilotonnes.

Biodiversity

The Spix macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the Oan national animal.

Oan Gondwana and some eastern islands have a savannah and grassland biome. This means it has a reasonably well developed tree network, but is is not thick enough to be called a forest, and lacks many smaller bushes and shrubs that would characterise it as a thicket. The grassland is rather straight forward in that there are enormous plains. The rest of the country often has thicker tree networks, and coupled with the consistent precipitation, are called tropical rainforests. There are mangrove forests on some islands. There are succulent and fine leafed plants in a small part of Oan Gondwana, where the it is very dry, sandy and hot, with almost desert like conditions. There are many palm trees, such as date and coconut palms which are often called the "national tree".

The Oan Isles is a megadiverse country. It has many endemic animal species. These include cranes, storks, herons and other waterbirds which enjoy the many rivers, lakes and wetlands. There are also many eagles, vultures, parrots and macaws and birds of paradise. There are also many amphibians these include newts, salamanders, toads and frogs some of which are poisonous. There are also many arthropods such as tarantulas and scorpions, beetles, mantises, mosquitoes, glow worms, kaiko bugs and many more, some being poisonous or vectors of disease often found in the new and sparsely inhabited colonies in the central pacific. There are many mammals such as enormous fruit bats, capibara, otters, sloths, great and lesser apes and monkeys, hippopotami, many lesser members of the genus panthera and wild members of the genus canis such as dingoes and wild dogs, and antelope. There are many reptiles such as constrictors and venomous snakes, giant lizards, crocodiles and alligators, and chameleons.

There are enormous amounts of marine wild life. These include the gigantic network of coral reefs. They are not only attractive for their vibrant colours, but provide shelter and food for many animals. These include eels, star fish, anemones, urchins, seaweed, tuna, clown fish, hake, dolphins, whales and porpoises, manatees and catfish, sea slugs and cucumbers, clams, mussels and other shell fish, crayfish, shrimp and prawns.

Climate

The vast majority of the Oan Isles have tropical climate. The Oan Isles lies between the tropic of Makara and the Aequator. They are mostly humid and hot with average temperatures of 30°C and humidity levels of ???. The highest recorded temperature was 50°C in Aequator Island. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -20°C on the peak of Heavenly Mountain. The mountains often rise so far above the earth and into the sky, that the temperatures drop well below freezing. The water on their summits is perpetually frozen, forming glaciers.

The West and Central parts of the Oan Isles have three seasons. The Summer is hot and humid and lasts 4 months, with consistent, but medium rainfall. The Monsoon lasts for four months and it rains torrentially. Cyclones often occur in this period. The largest was Cyclone Salua, killing 300 people apprpximately 90 years ago. The winter months have medium temperatures and less rain. Droughts do intermittenly occur due to the El Niño phenomenon. Oan Gondwana and the eastern islands have cooler temperatures and drier conditions although it seldom drops below 0°C even in winter.

Politics

The politics of the Oan Isles take place in the framework of a constitutional monarchy and direct democracy.

The Defender of the Realm, is the head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces, Ese Ulua. He is elected every seven years by the Council of Chiefs from among its members. The Defender appoints the National Council with the approval of the National Assembly and appoints the members of the National Court with the approval of the National Council. He represents the Oan Isles and its people, performs or presides over various rituals and ceremonies, confers honours, designates national monuments and symbols, and presides over meetings of the Council of Chiefs. He has reserve powers to deal with emergencies.

The National Council is the collective head of government of the Oan Isles and forms the executive branch of the national government. The members discuss and vote on major issues together. Every year the position of Chairman rotates among them. The chairman presides over meetings, enforces the rules, represents the body and coordinates their activities. This is currently Locklyn Le Roy. They develop policies and execute laws and oversee departments that fall within the purview of their portfolios. The portfolios and their officeholders are as follows:

• Member for Foreign Affairs: Locklyn Le Roy
• Member for Defence: Kiahuaeni Luawuye
• Member for Finance, Labour, Trade and the Economy: Kia Uye
• Member for Police, Corrections, Security and Justice (Justice Minister of The Oan Isles): Iohana Toaye
• Member for The Sea, Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment (Nature Minister of The Oan Isles): Aia Salua
• Member for The Home, Health, Welfare and Social Development (The Home Minister of The Oan Isles): Noa Toaye
• Member for Transport, Energy, Mineral Resources and Urban Development (The Urban Minister of The Oan Isles): Saul Takalua
• Member for Education, Science, Tourism, Sport and Art (Education Minister of The Oan Isles): Lua Oaye

The governments of both the provinces and the local communities have an executive component led by the Governors and Mayors respectively, elected by their provincial and local assemblies every five years to lead the executive branches of those governments.

The legislative components of the national, provincial and local governments, reflect the direct democratic nature of the Oan Isles. The National Assembly is made up of all adult citizens who are allowed to vote, the Provincial Assembly is made up of all adult citizens who have a right to vote who have lived in the province for over two years and the same applies to local assemblies. They debate, vote on and propose bills through an online application.

The judicial system follows common law in all criminal and most civil cases and customary law in personal and family matters when the matter applies to ethnic Oans. The National Court is the highest court, receives appeals and has general jurisdiction over the whole nation. Provincial Courts receive appeals and have general jurisdiction in the provinces they preside over. Regional courts and local courts conduct trials or civil applications. In all cases except the National Court, when a vacancy occurs the judges of the relevant court propose a replacement to the Defender of the Realm for his approval.

Political parties do not exist in the Oan Isles as the electorate forms the legislature.

Foreign relations

The Defender represents the Oan Isles. The daily work of diplomacy is handled by The Member of the National Council for Foreign Affairs. The National Assembly must ratify all treaties and international agreements. The government foreign policy is mostly focused on Auroran integration and cooperation and economic development. The Oan Isles is a member of the World Assembly and of the Auroran Continental Assembly. The Oan Isles maintains strong relations with Dragonia and Tuvaltastan.

As a member of the ACA, the Oan Isles has numerous responsibilities. These include providing or permitting the free movement of goods, services, capital and citizens of Auroran member states, refraining from declaring war upon other members and in fact defend them from unprovoked attacks. It is also obliged to maintain embassies with all member states, which it does. The Oan Isles refrains from joining other pacts or alliances such as the South East Pacific Coalition and Fire Pact Alliance due to its tenuous position in the Pacific ocean, where it lies between its most important member states.

It further exchanged embassies with The Celan Empire, Atlaesia and Mexregiona.

Military

Main article: Defence Forces of The Oan Isles

The Oan Defence Services form the military of The Oan Isles. They are responsible for the defence of Oan territory, projection of her power and protection of her allies. They are made up of three branches: the Terrestrial, Maritime and Aerial Defence Services. They are under the authority of the civilian government and within the portfolio of the Member of the National Council for Defence, Kiahuaeni Uye, while the operational head and highest ranking officer is Admiral Tukama Uataka. It is supplied by a combination of local and foreign suppliers. It is headquartered in the capital, La Rochelle, and its operations are coordinated by the Joint Operations Command. The O.D.S. is an entirely volunteer force. The O.D.S. has an operating budget of 50 billion kiribs and employs 150,000 personnel.

The O.D.S. operates and has seen action mostly within the territory of The Oan Isles. It does participate in international and foreign operations as well. In 2016, The M.D.S. was instrumental in expanding Oan territory into what is now The Oan Gondwana and Pacific Territories, Harmony and Tranquility Islands. In 2017 it successfully protected the Oan Cafe Net branch in Latianburg and evacuated Oan citizens from that country, with the help of the Furnifoldian forces deployed there. It participates in operations of the joint ACA forces headquartered in Weyrcliff, Dragonia.

Administrative divisions

Provinces and Unincorporated Territories (Colonies) of The Oan Isles

The Oan Isles is made up of 6 provinces which comprise what is typically called "the home islands". This is because they are the original islands from which the Oan nation originates and the vast majority of the population, economy and infrastructure of the Oan Isles are located here. These are The Provinces of the:

• Rock Island -- which is where the capital city of the nation, La Rochelle and Port of the Rock are located. It has a total population of 40 million people and a density of 5,000 people a square kilometre. The indigenous rain forests have largely been reduced to public parks scattered through out the large cities. A large amount of land is acquired through land reclamation.
• Heavenly Island -- has a population of 30 million people. They are also very closely packed together into a small space. Peripheral islands are preserved as marine sanctuaries and wildlife conservation while the main island is an agglomeration of many cities, the largest being Heavenly City.
• Serenity Island -- is slightly more " laid back" than the preceding provinces, but it is still densely populated. It has 20 million people. The rainforests are preserved as public parks while the peripheral islands are left unscathed from the destructive power of man. Serenity hosts the annual airshow that forms celebrations for the armed forces and a showcase for defence technology. Like all the provinces and cities, they have avoided destroying their beaches by refusing to build close to them except in key areas.
• Crystal Island -- while the tallest mountain is Heavenly island, this island is more jagged and difficult and has the highest average elevation. The cities are built high into the mountains and dug into valleys and tunnels. This results in the unique cityscapes of this island province. It has close to 10 million people.
• The Northern Islands once had the most number of islands. Its population was split up more across islands. It has a population of 7 million people.

There are additionally colonies or more formally known as unincorporated territories. This means that because the political, financial and other difficulties that the state is facing, it is unable to extend certain rights or deliver certain public services or establish certain institutions. The government is then forced to govern the areas itself, directly. The Oan Isles has a number of such places, these are:

• Harmony Islands -- These form the southern portion of the newly acquired territories to the north of home islands of the Oan Isles named by General Oaluoa Uye. They have a population of 3 million people, mostly located in or around the city of Harmony
• Tranquility Islands -- These are the northern most islands. They have a population of 2,5 million people, most of live around or in Tranquility City. Some of these islands, such as Aequator Island have been availed to the Emberwood Coast Space Program for use as launching site.
• Oan Pacific Territories -- This is the collective name for all the Oan islands in the Pacific between the home islands and Gondwana, made up of The Peace and Pristine archipelagos. They have a total population of 500,000 people who are relatively dispersed fairly evenly throughout the islands although the city of Pristine City, which is at the middle point of the Pacific, is the most built up settlement followed by Midway, another major settlement.
• Oan Gondwana Territories-- This is the first piece of continuous continental part of the Oan Isles and probably the most strategic other than the home islands themselves of course. They connect the Gulf of Gondwana to The Pacific Ocean, a first. Their major settlement are the Port of the Light and La Lumo which house most of the population of 4 million total settlers. Oan Gondwana has diverse ecosystems and untapped natural resource potential.

Law enforcement and crime

The Oan judicial system is widely regarded as free, fair, impartial, independent and incorruptible. Training, discipline and protection of judges and lawyers and other officers in the system as a whole is scrupulous and unfailing. The highest courts are the National and Provincial Courts which receive appeals and the lowest are regional and local courts which conduct trials. Tribunals exist to mediate and resolve disputes amicably before resorting to litigation. Free legal advice and representation can be sought from the excellent attorneys at the Justice Office, especially when one cannot find help. The rule of law is upheld and the people's rights are protected in practice.

The Oan Police Service or O.P.S. is the law enforcement agency of the national government. It has two branches: The Maritime and Terrestrial Police Services. The Maritime Police Service or M.P.S. is responsible for lae enforcement at sea, especially dealing with and preventing piracy, poaching, and smuggling, and maintaining sea marks and conducting relief operations especially disaster and search and rescue. The Terrestrial Police Services are responsible for law enforcement on the Oan Pacific and Oan Gondwana Territory, and conduct special operations when asked to by the provincial and local governments. The Provincial and local governments bear most of the responsibility for law enforcement and correctional services within their jurisdiction.

Through progressive social policies -- for instance in education and social welfare -- and a efficient and efficacious police system, the Oan Isles is virtually free from crime.

Revenue and debt

The Revenue Service of The Oan Isles is responsible for collecting all taxes, levies and rates on behalf of the national, provincial and local governments through a variety of subsidiary bodies and branches. The national government charges a tax of 80% on the income of the top 5% of earners (approximately 3,5 million people). They earn an average 1,000,000 kiribs, contributing 2,8 trillion kiribs to the state coffers or 70% of all taxes. The rest of the 3,5 trillion dollars in revenue are made up by smaller taxes and revenue from state entrepreneurship.

As will be discussed further in the section The Economy, the state is the main driver of the economy. It generates money from dividends paid out through its large stake in many corporate entities, through rental fees and capital gains. Its holdings are managed through the state holding company, The Oan Sovereign Fund. Provincial and local governments charge other taxes and conduct their own commercial activities.

A shortfall of funds does occur, forcing the state to borrow money, accruing debt. This debt is sold to the citizens as bonds, particularly the richest, who own 90% of Oan debt. Citizens buy treasury bonds, the money is used to pay back debt to banks and foreign governments. The government pays the citizens minute amounts of money in return over an extremely long period. So far the state has remained buoyant on its 10 trillion kiribs of debt. Through its welfare programs and subsidies, most citizens do not generate large amounts of debt, in fact there is a fairly positive leakage or savings rate.

Economy

Main article: Economy of The Oan Isles

The Oan Isles has a GDP of 3 trillion SHD. Three quarters of the economy are made up of the state and state-owned enterprise and a quarter is made up of the private sector. The biggest sector of the economy is the services sector which accounts for half of the economy, while the secondary sector accounts for two fifths and the rest is made up of the primary sector.

The Oan Isles has two currencies. It uses the Kirib for foreign transactions, while it uses the Oan Dollar for domestic transactions. The Oan dollar is pegged to the kirib. The Bank of The Oan Isles is the central bank of The Oan Isles. The debt of the Oan Isles is over twice the value of GDP and wasted spending runs into billions of dollars. The Oan Isles benefits from its strategic location between the continents of Aurora and Gondwana, from a productive population, efficient management of the economy and access to an abundance of non-mineral natural resources. Although income is distributed unevenly, this is mitigated by high taxes and a large welfare system.

The Oan Isles' conducts most of its trade and generates most of its income from countries in the Auroran Continental Assembly, particularly Staynes, Caltharus, Tuvaltastan and Dragonia. The Oan Isles main exports include fish, wood, electronics, machinery, and vessels and vehicles. The Oan Isles main imports are fuel and petrochemicals, grain and meat, and metals.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of The Oan Isles

The Oan Isles has a large, ethnically, linguistically and religiously heterogeneous population of approximately 90 million people. The largest ethnic group is the Oan ethnic group (after whom the country is named), the official and largest language is Oan and the largest religion is the Oan Christian Church, a branch of the Christian religion. Three quarters of the population live in urban areas with the largest city being Port of the Rock followed by La Rochelle, the capital city.

The Oan Isles has a high rate of development. All adults can read and write with virtually all of them completing mandatory and free education. The people benefit from an efficient and free health care system, with an average life expectancy of over 90 and an infant mortality rate of virtually none. Due to the urban lifestyle, family planning and restrictive immigration policies (regardless of travel agreements signed with the ACA), the population grows at a rate of less than half a percent.

Culture

The Oan Isles has a very vibrant cultural scene. Oans frequently attend their thriving concerts, theatres and cinemas among a myriad of cultural attractions. They have a unique culture, that is blend of many cultures.

Music

The Oan music scene is diverse, robust and lucrative. The most prolific genres are tropical, Afrobeat, reggae and dancehall, hip-hop, jazz and R&B. Most music is rhythmic and relatively fast or medium paced, with a beat. There is a strong appreciation of both vocal and instrumental music. Most instruments feature percussion such as marimba and drums, and chord instruments such as acoustic guitar or strummed cello. Oans have an appreciation and preference for live shows such as concerts, music festivals, jazz clubs and open air street parties.

Literature and media

Oans have a vibrant culture of literature. There is a strong culture of teen fiction, due to the popularity of espionage, fantasy, science fiction and alternative universes. Adults generally historical fiction and crime dramas. In the Oan Isles there are warnings for age inappropriate content.

The most prolific publications are The Critic and The La Rochelle Times. The Critic has a magazine, weekly newspaper and online platform. It is begrudgingly sponsored by the state. The government is often the subject of scathing articles in The Critic. The government has tried repeatedly to supress The Critic, but the publication has easily deflected these attempts as it is mandated by the law and shielded by the courts. The exchanges and conflict are often the subject of public entertainment. The La Rochelle Times is a more muted paper, favoured by the middle class. Raisson Rouge began as a Wachovian language magazine, but has blossomed into a fashion, lifestyle and tabloid magazine. Its less restrained counterpart, La Rue poisson, is known for defamation and exaggeration.

Social media

The social media site, Café In™, is owned by the internet services giant, Café Net. One can share videos, pictures and text through a personal messaging component or a publically visible timeline. One can either follow or connect with users. Another social media service, also provided by Café Net, is an application called Vibe™. This application facilitates video and voice calls and messaging to one user or to multiple users of the application at once.

Art

The Oan Isles has several types of preeminent art forms. These are wood sculpture, tapestries and murals. Major public areas often have totems. These are large wooden poles into which abstract secular or religious motifs and figures are carved into the wood. The most famous one is the Wawiyawaye, a 5 metre totem in a park in La Rochelle, on top of which is carved a man thinking, as birds and words seemingly pour out of his minds.

Tapestries are rather non-traditional. Intricate patterns and complex imagery are made by weaving dyed grass or plant threads/fibres. The most famous example is a twenty metre tapestry in the gallery of the National History and Art Museum. It features a complex story of the establishment of the Oan Isles.

Murals are main form of painting. They feature traditional Oan geometric and abstract figures and patterns, decorating large public spaces. A newer form is hip-hop inspired street art. Many public areas such as tunnels, bridges, buildings and public wall galleries feature works commissioned by the state or private patrons.

Drama, Film and Television

Many theatre pieces, films and television shows are locally produced, and written. Theatre is very beloved. The most common form of theatre is open air short comedies or dramas, portraying stories in the old Oan style. The major theatres are well attended. The television scene is dominated by drama series and mini-series. Films are characterised by their personal and intimate nature and low budget. There are, sometimes, large scale blockbuster films such as At the Edge of Time, a science fiction film of a dystopic Oan Isles in which vulpines have driven humans to near-extinction. It was highly controversial upon release.

Infrastructure

The Oan Isles is highly urbanised and has a developed infrastructure network.

Communications

The Oan Isles has a large Information Technology sector. Its entire television broadcasting network is digital. The network uses satellites to move content and handle communications. The internet and other telecommunications networks use optic fibre cables. The average internet speed is 50Mbps. The Oan Isles also has a high fibre density or concentration due to high urbanisation. There is a large availability of public and free WiFi in public spaces.

Transport

The Oan Isles has an advanced transportation infrastructure network. It has thousands of kilometres of paved roads. In urban areas, space is saved by stacking roads of top of each other in urban areas or digging them into the ground. Unfortunately this results a complex traffic system and high traffic jam rates. The Oan Isles is mostly dependent on public transport, mostly buses. This significantly reduces the frequency and impact of traffic jams. This also saves Oan citizens and businesses money and time. It also reduces the impact of noise and air pollution generated by cars. This also results in low car ownership. Cars in the Oan Isles are fairly expensive especially when compared to buses. The cars and other private vehicles on the road are almost entirely electric and some use a potent mixture of methane, aerated plant-sourced alcohol and ethane called Oanfuel.

There is an extensive network of railways. They are either aboveground or underground. The system is used for both passenger and freight transport. They trains are punctual and effecient. They travel throughout the country. The largest station is the Ocean Throne Central Station in the Port of The Rock with tracks connecting La Rochelle, Port of the Rock and Heavenly City.The Oan rail network is mostly made up of high speed bullet trains with an average speed of 300km/h. It comprises the bulk of inter-island locomotion, making use of artificial or underground tunnels to move people and goods between islands.

Energy

The Oan Isles has a good energy network. It was strained by the lack of coal and was marred by the pollution it caused. The government resolved to use renewable energy. This bolstered new technologies to produce energy for the Oan Isles. It replaced the conventional system with renewable and less polluting industry.

The Oan Isles uses nuclear energy for 10% of its energy needs. It uses Uranium brought in from Oan Gondwana and imported from Aurora. The radioactive materials or waste products are disposed of in a place called the Cracks of Fire. This is an open area in the crust when molten rock and fire bubble out from deep beneath the urth.

The Oan Isles also uses solar energy. It uses a combination of conventional solar farms and self powered buildings and homes. The Oan Isles is often bright and sunny. Many residential areas have solar panels. Large buildings have had their windows converted to transparent solar panels. They generate electricity and sometimes have enough to feed the main power grid. Solar power produces 30% of The Oan Isles' energy needs. Solar is often stored in massive batteries. This allows people and businesses to have power even when the sun is not shining.

The Oan Isles also uses geothermal energy. The Oan Isles has many volcanoes and hot geysers. It uses these open sources of heat to produce over 30% of its energy needs. The Oan Isles also uses wind energy to produce 5% of its energy needs. This relatively small proportion is due to the fact that the Oan Isles has a small amount of space. The Oan Isles also uses hydroelectric energy to produce 5% of its energy needs. It uses cellulosic ethanol and methane for 10% for its other needs, often in private utilities such as cooking at home. Cellulosic ethanol is found in waste plant material of any kind. Methane is taken from the decomposition of waste in ancient landfill sites, underground deposits and from livestock.

The Oan Isles has found a way to store the carbon dioxide generated from using electricity. The gas is sent into the basalt layer beneath deep beneath the urth, where it reacts with other elements and solidifies. This is the reason why the Oan Isles has very clear skies.

Water

The Oan Isles has a lot of rain. It rains for eight out of twelve months almost torrentially. The Oan Isles government built overground and underground channels to move water to massive underground resevoirs. This enables the Oan Isles to have easy water access and to reduce the need for dams. The Oan Isles has a good water treatment and redistribution system. The country also recycles most of its waste water. This allows The Oan Isles to have abundant water. The Oan Isles also has undersea water pipelines to transport water between islands. There is some desalination. Oan Gondwana Territories are supplied by the massive Five Valleys Dam in the Truimphant Mountains where the Salania River has been redirected to an area where five valleys converge. This dam can provide watet and energy to Rijelv as well.

Social programs

Welfare

The Oan Isles exudes many characteristics of a socialist economy, but it is more accurately a welfare state. The Oan government has provided free healthcare to its citizens (which will be discussed more extensively under the section health) and free education (which will be discussed under the section education). There are social programs whicu will be discussed herein.

People who get married for the first time, have a single child or buy an apartment or house for the first time receive an allowance. People who are disabled or above a particular age, suffer from chronic illness, adopt a child, are injured out of their own accord or engage in charity work instead of actual labour, and single mothers and women who have been raped receive an allowance or compensation from the state. Their needs and circumstances are assessed according to a complex matrix of formulae to pay them a necessary amount.

Essential foods such as fruits and vegetables, staples such as bread or rice, and milk are subsidised by the state. Poorer families, in fact receive free food (except for meat and nonessential items). Transport costs especially for the poor or low income earners, the elderly or disabled, are subsidised by the state. Fuel and electricity costs especially for the worst off citizens, are subsidised by the state. Medical costs for essential surgery or treatment are subsidised by the state. Education is compulsory and free while the costs of tertiary education for able and willing learners are subsidised. People who work in essential industries such as emergency, medical, defence, education or police services receive an allowance. Essential research is funded by the state.

Education

In the Oan Isles, primary and secondary education is free and compulsory. Schools are built and managed by provinces, governed by parents and their content is determined by universities, while their assessments and the system in which they are taught is controlled by the national government. Oans have a relatively low tertiary education compared to most developed countries. This is attributed to the fact that there is a strong emphasis on preparing students for their careers during their primary and secondary education instead of tertiary education, allowing many to practice and work without additional or tertiary schooling.

School starts from the age of 7, rather late by most comparisons. At Level 8, with each level being a year long, students are diverted into their careers. They are grouped into one of three faculties: Humanities, Science and Technical. They take additional practical training as apprentices under a working professional ovet several months for five years, earning an additional qualification along with their "Matriculation Certification" at the end of their schooling: "The Apprentice Certification". They are subsequently qualified to work in many fields. More specialist careers such as medicine, physics and law, require further education. This is often accomplished at one of our distinguished universities.

The Oan Isles has several universities. The most distinguised is the University of La Rochelle and the largest is the National University of The Oan Isles. The National University is an open learning distance education university enrolling 1 million people mostly diploma courses or short courses. The University of La Rochelle is research focused. It's School of Science is renowned for its R&D, with several patents including carbon fibre tech used in cellphones, developed with its close partner, the Metatron Corporation. The University of Serenity is the host and operator of the Oahuana II Large Particle Collider, in which the graviton was discovered, in collaboration with the National Science Council of The Oan Isles. The University of Crystal Island is renowned for hosting one of the highest large telescopes in the Aurora-Gondwana area: The Stargazer Telescope Array, rising 2,000 metred above the sea. The University of Heavenly operates the massive Medical School Academic Hospital, with close to 5,000 beds, responsible for innovations in hydro colon therapy and gastrointestinal disease treatment and prevention. The University of Tranquility and Harmony is a new addition and has the largest overall reach, servicing students at campuses and through open distance learning in The Tranquility and Harmony Provinces, and the Oan Gondwana and Pacific Territories. The UTH is slowly being split up, however.

Health

The Oan health system is regarded as of a high quality. It has a large number of hospitals and clinics, equiped with the necessary materials and machines, and staffed by competent doctors and nurses. In the Oan Isles, healthcare, for citizens is mostly free. The state pays for most essential surgeries and treatments for chronic and non-chronic conditions. Prescription spectacles are free, immunisation, especially for young children is free. Non essential surgeries and treatments such as sex-change are not covered by the state.

Oans have a life expectancy of 90 years. The oldest man currently alive is 130 years old. The Oan Isles' citizens benefit from healthy and abundant food, clean air and water, access to medical and sanitary facilities or amenities and frequent exercise, and safe working conditions. The Oan Isles is focused on disease prevention ranging from lifestyle choice to immunisation against communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and measles. The Oan diet is characterised by a large amount of vegetables and fish. Meat and oily foods are often expensive, thus diabetes, heart disease and high/low blood pressure are not major health issues. The deadliest disease, among prevalent fatal diseases is cancer, killing 1 out of 20,000 people each year.

--The Oan Isles (talk) 23:14, 18 March 2017 (EDT)